Edward Bickham
Senior Adviser, World Gold Council
Edward Bickham is Senior Adviser to the World Gold Council on ESG issues and leads their work on artisanal and small-scale mining. In 2022, he authored a report: 'Lessons Learned on the management of the interface between large-scale and small-scale mining' which features 25 case studies from 17 countries. In 2017-19 he led the consultation process that led to the development of the Responsible Gold Mining Principles. Bickham was previously Global Head of External Affairs for Anglo American overseeing corporate affairs, government relations, social performance, ethics and internal communications. He served on the Advisory Group which designed the design of the EITI and then represented the mining industry on the EITI Board from 2006 until 2013. Has been closely involved in the design and governance of other mining industry initiatives including the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, the OECD Guidance on the Responsible Sourcing of Minerals and of the Cyanide Code.
Earlier in his career, Bickham was Special Adviser to the British Foreign Secretary (1990-93) and Home Secretary (1985-88) and was involved in the establishment of satellite broadcasting in the UK.